What A Man Says
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Posted: March 20, 2021
Author: Christopher Brock Haggai 1:5-6, NIV “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” |
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As I reflect on my past, I can see how I was such an example of the person who is being described in today’s verse. It always seemed that no matter how much I had, it was never enough. The part that really captivated my thoughts was the final statement which described how we earn money, and then put it in a purse with holes in it! What a perfect description of what my life was like for so many years.
God blessed me with a solid education and career. Over the course of about fifteen years I was able to consistently earn income and yet, I can tell you today that as much as I earned, my wallet was almost always empty. I chased after so many things believing that those things would ultimately be the answer for what I desired. Time after time again, I was left feeling exactly like the person who is described in the verse. I harvested little, I never had enough and I never had my fill. I can tell you that when you live like that it is a sad and depressing life.
I believe that is why the Lord tells us in this verse to “Give careful thought to your ways”. How often do you truly think about your ways and the things that you do? How often do you examine yourself concerning your motives and your desires? The reality is that this is something that we should be doing every day. We should be examining ourselves and also asking the Holy Spirit to help us. When we truly review our lives, and allow the Lord to reveal truth to us, we will begin to see areas in which we need to change. We will start to gain an understanding of what life is all about. Life is not about what we can earn for ourselves and what we can gain, life is about how we love and serve Jesus by loving and serving others.
So, when we give careful thought to our lives we should be asking ourselves this question, am I living to love and serve Christ or am I living to serve myself? Like so many things, we know what the answer should be and it is very easy to say it, but living it out through action is what truly matters.
